Dec. 16, 2010
As she has for the past 12 years, Kim Evans will be counting on the Auburn community to help feed hundreds of families on Christmas day.
Evans once again hosted the annual Will Golf Fore Food golf tournament last Friday at the Auburn University Club. The tournament benefits the Meals on Wheels program in Lee and Russell counties and the Gary Moore/Red Lobster Christmas Day Meal for needy families.
"We want everybody to be served on Christmas day," Evans said. "It's the most special time of the year. This golf tournament helps us feed those families who otherwise might not get a hot meal on Christmas day. It also raises money for the Meals on Wheels program to help feed needy families throughout the year. Hunger exists right here in East Alabama," Evans said. "This is just one way that we can fight hunger."
Non-golfers can also support Evans' cause through financial donations or by volunteering to work at Red Lobster on Christmas Day, either serving, cleaning up or delivering meals to families and organizations in the community who otherwise might not enjoy a traditional holiday meal. Meals are also delivered to public safety workers and hospital staff who have to work on Christmas.
Evans said the golf tournament raises several thousand dollars annually, but more support is needed to feed the hungry year-round.
"This is not just about helping people during the most special time of the year, this is about helping people in our community throughout the year," Evans said. "There are about 100 people on the waiting list for the Meals on Wheels program because there is not enough funding to meet the need, but we are cutting that number every year. It is my hope to one day have no one on the waiting list."
In addition to the Christmas day meals served at Red Lobster, Evans and her elves, including members of the Auburn women's golf team, prepare holiday packets with snacks and goodies. Nearly 300 holiday packages were prepared for delivery last week.
"We take for granted the fact that we always have snacks and cookies around during the Christmas season, but a lot of people don't get to enjoy those things. We just want to make sure that everyone gets a little Christmas cheer."
For more information on ways to help, e-mail Evans at evanski@auburn.edu or call (334) 844-9766.